Banned tour pro details reasons behind suspension

A suspended Korn Ferry Tour player has shared the reasons behind a three-month ban that was handed to him by the PGA Tour.

Jake Staiano, a 26-year-old pro from Colorado, was suspended for violating the tour’s ‘Integrity Program’ for placing $116.20 worth of bets.

The American placed four bets in 2021 and has revealed he will now miss PGA Tour Q-School through his suspension.

Speaking on the Any Given Monday podcast, he said: “At the end of the day, I know that betting on golf is wrong, and I want people to understand that I didn’t have malicious intent.

“I’ve accepted my punishment. Fair or not, people can argue that, but I want to make sure other guys understand what happened, so they don’t make the same mistake.

“It could be career-altering, you never know. I might not get the chance to get back to Q-School or whatever it may be. I don’t want that to happen to other people.

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“It’s something I have to live with, but I feel that I and other people can learn from this.”

The PGA Tour released a statement last week, which read that two players had been suspended for breaching the rules.

They state that players are prohibited from gambling on golf competition. Fellow Korn Ferry player Vince India was dealt a six-month suspension.

Staiano, who has only made 17 starts on the tour in his career, admitted to placing a $25 bet on Bryson DeChambeau to birdie a hole in 2021.

It preceded three bets he placed on ‘The Match’ between DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in November that year.

While no information was given by the American circuit, Staiano argued the unfair nature of the ban.

He added: “I think maybe a little bit. The press release is a little vague, so I just wanted to get it out there that this was two years ago, and I made a mistake.

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“The press release made it out like Vince and I are these evil guys, so that was frustrating.”

“I’ve been a conditional Korn Ferry Tour player for two years, and every shot truly counts, so I get it, but I just want to clear my name.”

Before being dealt the season-ending blow, Staiano outlined that the PGA Tour undertakes background checks on every affiliated member.

Staiano was called by a third-party investigator before receiving an email from PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan regarding the ban.

His suspension runs from September 11 to December 10, while India is suspended until March 17, 2024.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.